David Raya transfer Manchester United and Chelsea to test Spurs’ pulling power
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David Raya - David Raya transfer: Manchester United and Chelsea to test Spurs’ pulling power - Getty Images/Marc Atkins
Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in David Raya and are ready to rival Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for the Brentford goalkeeper this summer, Telegraph Sport understands.
Raya has 18 months remaining on his Brentford contract and is expected to leave the club at the end of the season.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport earlier this month, Spurs are closely tracking the 27-year-old as they prepare to sign a long-term successor to club captain Hugo Lloris.
Raya also has admirers at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, however, and the Spain international could be at the centre of a tug-of-war between three of England’s biggest clubs.
Raya has consistently impressed in the Premier League since Brentford’s promotion, earning plaudits for his accurate distribution, and was included in Spain’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
With his contract coming to an end, this summer represents the last chance for Brentford to generate a significant transfer fee for a player they signed from Blackburn Rovers for £3 million in 2019.
The size of the potential deal for Raya will depend on which clubs decide to follow up their initial interest, although the expectation is that he could cost in the region of £15 million to £20 million.
Chelsea are planning to assess their goalkeeper options ahead of the summer window amid uncertainty over the long-term future of Edouard Mendy, who has lost his place to Kepa Arrizabalaga this season.
Any potential move for Raya or another goalkeeper by United could depend on whether they qualify for the Champions League, which would significantly improve their spending power in the summer window.
United are in talks with David de Gea, the long-standing No 1 at Old Trafford who is likely to sign a new deal on significantly reduced terms, but the club are still exploring goalkeeping options in the transfer market.
De Gea’s all-round game has improved notably over the course of the season but there have been questions in the past over the quality of his distribution.
Raya, who made two appearances for Spain last year, is widely regarded as one of the finest distributors in the Premier League. Last season Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, said of Raya: “He should have a No 10 on his back, with the balls he played.”
In an exclusive interview earlier this season, Raya told Telegraph Sport: “I’ve been working on coming out from the back since I was a child but now I’m trying to perfect it. I do rondos, things like that. It forces me to be cold-blooded and to have a lot of confidence in myself.
“You’re always exposed to making a mistake, but I have to be calm enough not to get down when that happens. I know that this ability with my feet is something that sets me apart and I repeat to myself that I have to learn to forget the bad moments.”
Arsenal are among the clubs who have previously shown interest in Raya, with the north London side making a bid of around £10 million in the summer of 2020. Arsenal’s offer was rejected and Mikel Arteta instead set his sights on Aaron Ramsdale, who joined the club in August 2021.